Air preheater



May 19, 1925@ 1,538,686`

W. T. CHAMBERLAIN AIR PREHEATER Filed May 3l- 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVL 1^/ TOI? hanberlqz'n..

A TTOH/VE V8 w/TNESSES May 19, 1925.

w. T. CHAMBERLAIN AIR PREHEATER Filed may :51. 1924 6 Sheets-'Sheet 2WIT/VESSES ffe /N V E /V TUR CkamZerZaz'l;

A fr0/mns May 19, 1925. 1,538,686

w. T. CHAMBERLAIN AIR PREHlElA'lERV Filed May 31. `192.4 e sheets-sheets mi ma L5 B A TTOH/VEYS May 19, 1925.

` 1,538,686 w. T. CHAMBERLAIN AIR PREHEATER Filed May i 31. -1924 6Sheets-Sheet. 4

' /m/E/Jrof?` 71.711 Camerlaim w/mfssfs 31,

ATTUHIVEYS May 19, 1925.

w. T. CHAMBERLAIN AIR PREHEATER Filed May 31- 1924 6 Sheets-She'et 5 .Emwrpr ,wf/vm WZ'mi/Zerlaill Arm/mers Yilllllllllllllllllllll||I||||IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 'its Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITEDV STATESv WD'JLIAM T. CHAMBERLAIN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIB. .PREHEAm Application mea may si, 1924. serial No. 717,077.

To all 'whom zt may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. CHAM- BERLAIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and alresident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, inthe county and State of New York, have invented a new and Im- VprovedAir Preheater, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

his invention; relates to `air preheaters and more particularly toimproved apparatus adapted fruse in connection with any type of stove orfurnace and vwhich functions to utilize the smoke and gases from thefurnace or stove toheat elements, and the latter function topreheat airentering the furnace.

A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangementof parts whereby the direction of flow of the smoke and gases and theair are reversed at suitab-le intervals whereby .the air heatingelements are alternatel subjected to the heat from the smoke an gasesand then radiate such heat into the air entering the stove or furnace.

A further ob'ect is to'provide an improved arrangement o chambersv andpassages 'with improved heating elementsv therein and an. improvedarrangement of valveswhlch c`on`` trol the flow of the sinoke and gases'and the air. e

A further object is to provide an improved construction of heatingelements and improved mounting therefor.

A further object is to provide an improved means for automaticallyshifting the valves which permit the valves to remain vin one positionfor a predeterminedlength 0f time and then uicklv and suddenly shift theposition of t e valves to change the direction of flow ofthe smoke andgases'and the air.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts which will be more fully hereinafterdesc'ribed and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly 5broken away, 'illust-rating my improvement in connection with a furnaceof the boiler type.;

Figure 2 1 s -a view 1n front elevatlo'n at right angles toFigure 1,portions of the apparatus being in section;

valve-throwing mechanism;

Figure 3 isa view on an' enlarged scale,4 showing myimproved.constructionand arrangement of preheater with certain of the heatingelements' removed, the View being take; in section on the l1ne3-3 ofFig-v ure F igurea is a view in section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top heating elements;

Figure 7 is a view in front elevation of the heating element shown inFigure 6;'

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view., in detail,of the constructionof the improved heating element shown in Figures 6 and`7 ;y

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail views illustrating a modification of theconstruction of the heating element; `Figures 12 and 13 are vdetailviews of parts shown in Figure 8 Figure 14 is a view illustrating myimproved valve-throwing mechanism, the view being taken in section onthe line 14-14 of Figure 15;

Figure 15 is a view in elevation at right anglestoFigure 14, showing thearrangement of parts `constituting my improved plan view of 'one of theFigure 16 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 16-'-16 of Figure15;

Figure 17 is a sectional view illustrating the assembla e of my`improved valvethrowing mec anism` in connection with the valve and itsco-operating parts;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 18-18 of Figure15.

General assemblage.

1 represents a stove or furnace, which may be of the boiler t e shown ormay be of any other type. is furnace has a smoke outlet flue 2 whichcommunicates with one end, preferabl the lower end, of my im- 100 provedair preheater A, the latter having a smoke outlet flue 3 at one end.

This air preheater A has a pair of parallel'.v partitions 4:, 4 in itscentral portion, divid ing the same into two passages 5 and 6, both 105of which` communicate lat their respective ends with'the flues 2 and 3,the end walls of the preheater casing being tapered or inclined, yasshown at 7, and a pair of butl tery valves 8 and 9 are located in there- 110 spective ends of the preheater casing to control the flow ofsmoke and gases and air, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

These valves 8 and 9 are .fixed to shafts 10 which project through thepreheater casing and have crank arms 11 thereon connected by a link 12so that they are compelled to move in unison.` A second crank arm 13 isfixed tol one of the shafts 10 and an operating rod 14 is connected tosaid arm and to a piston 15, the latter movable in the cylinder 16andcaused to move longitudinally in the cylinder 15 by a fluid, such asair or steam, admitted through pipes 17 and 18 communicating withrespective ends of the cylinder 16 and controlled by a valve 19 locatedin a casing 20. v

This valve 19 is preferably of the plug or turning type having twopassages 21 and 22 so that when the valve is in the position shown inFigure 17 a fluid supply pipe 23 is in communication-"with the pipe 18,and the pipe 17 is in communication with an outlet 2 4. When the valveis turned so as to reverse its position, fluid is admitted through thepipe 17 to move the piston 15 to the right of Figure 17, and the fluidin the cylinder exhausts through the outlet 24. As it is desirable thatthis valve 19 operates quickly because it controls the position of thevalves 8 and 9, I have devised an improved valve-throwin mechanism whichwill bemore fully hereinafter described and which functions to operate arod 25 connectcd to a crank arm 26 fixed to the valve 19.

The valves 8 and 9 above. referred to are preferably hollow but may beotherwise4 formed and constructed so as to withstand the temperature towhich they are necessarily subjected,., and to provide for the necessaryexpansion and contraction and, furthermore, to insure a proper seatingof these valves I provide resilient valve seats 27. against whichl theends of the valves 8 and 9 engage so that a certain cushioning effect ishad and also a certain movement or Hexing is permitted to dislodge anysoot or dirt which might accumulate and prevent proper closing of thevalves.

Preheat@ construction.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3 to 13, inclusive, it `will benoted that a partition 28 extends from the inner partition walls 4, 4and that the space between said partitions 4, 4 at their upper edge isopen so that air is permitted to enter this opening, indicated by thereference numeral 29,-l

, opening 29 will flow downwardly through the passagey or chamber 5 intothe space between the partitions 4, 4 below partition 28, from whichpoint the air is conveyed by a 'flue 30 to an outlet box 31 located atany suitable position in the stove or furnace but preferably under thegrate 31 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.l The smoke and gases passingupwardly through the flue 2 flow through the right-hand chamberv 6 andout through the flue 3.

When the position of the valves 8 and 9 are reversed, the flow of airand smoke and gases is likewise reversed, as will be readily understood.

Within ythe chambers or assages 5 and 6 I provide a plurality of inependent heating elements B. These heating elements B are preferablyprovided at their lowerbends with rollers 3.2 which ride upon tracks 33,and doors 34 areiormed in the wall of the preheater casing so that theseelements By Heating element.

It is of great importance to construct a heating clement which willabsorb the greatest possible amount of heat4 and likewise radiate suchheat, and with this object in view I construct my improved heatingelements largely of wire and shall describe in detail one of theseheating elements which will apply, of course, to all alike.

In constructing a heating element I provide a central post 37 to whicharms 38 and 3 9 are connected. These arms 38 and 39 in their assemblageconstitute in effect channels in which spacers 40 are mounted. Thesespacers 40 may constitute strips, as shown in Figure 12, having notches41 in one edge to receive the wire 42`and properly space the runs ofsaid wire.

Instead of providing spacing strips 40 I may locate angles 43 betweenthe runs of the wire, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and ill, and to spacethe wires laterally from each -other I may provide short sections ofwire 44 between the runs of wire and also between the angular spacers43. In constructing the elements a single set of'spacers is assembled asthe wire indicated by the reference numeral 42v is wound thereon. Inother words, the operation is to begin at the center and windhorizontally around` and around,

spacingthe several runs as above indicated,

\ an electric motor, 59. The

until the winding reaches the desired length, when a set of spacers ofproper form are assembled on top of the first winding and the windingbegins again, but this time in the opposite direction so that with asingle length of wire another element can be formed, and by providingthis arrangement of spacers I construct a heating element which iscomposed mainly of wire with the diiferent runs of wire spaced apart inboth directions. Such a construction of heatingI element presents anenormous `amount of radiating surface and also presents a constructionwhich is not liable 'to be injured or disorganized by high temperatures,which absorbs Vthev maximum of heat, and which causes or compels the airto filter therethrough and rapidly take up the heat so that the transferof heat is rapid and of high temperature. p

I do not wish to be limited, of course, to the exact construction andmanner of forming and spacing the runs of wire but I do claim broadlythe idea of a heating element of this type composed of a plurality ofruns of wire spaced apart both longitudinally and transversely,vertically and horizontally. or in any two directions in which thewinding and spacing takes place.

To provide a suitable mounting for the rollers 32 a base frame work 45is provided at the lower end of each heating element.

Vahiefthro-wz'ng mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Figures 14 to 18, inclusive, Cvrepresentsa supporting framework providing mounting` for a crank arm 46 which isconnected to the rod 25 of the valve cranky arm 26 above referred to.This framework C also provides mounting for a shaft 47 on which a bar 48is fixed between its ends, and the respective ends of this bar 48 areadapted to engage acrank pin 49 on the crank arm 46 to throw the valveas will be hereinafter explained.

A relatively heavy weighted arm 5U is also fixed to the shaft A47, andon said shaft 7 at opposite sides of the weighted arm 5() worm wheels 51and 52 are loosely mounted. These worm wheels 51 and 52 are turned byworms 53 on shafts 54, and these shafts 54 have gear wheels 55 fixedthereon which under-mesh so as to compel the worm' shaft 54 to turn inopposite directions and transmit motion 1n opposite directions to` theworm wheels 51 and 52, respectively.

On one of the shafts 54 al 56 is fixed and is turned by a pinion/57 on ashaft 58 drivenv by a motor,'preferably weighted arm 50 carries atopposite sides bell crank ratchet arms 60, these arms beingV -reverselypositioned jat opposite'sides withthe shorter ends of the ratchet'armsadapted `to be engaged-` by lugs 61 on Athe worm'wheels 51y or arge gearwheelA 52 and the longer ends of the fixed pins 62 on the weighted arm50.'

The operation of this valve-throwing mechanism is as follows: Assumingthe parts to be in the position shown in Figure 14, it will be notedthat the Worm Wheel 51 has its lug 61 in engagementwith the bell crankratchet arm 60 so that the longer end of said arm is held against thepin G2, and hence the weighted arm is bein'g carried around by the wormwheel in the direction of the arrow. i

This -movement of causes the shaft 47 to turn and carry the bar 48around with it. The crank arm 46 remains stationary until the lefthandend of the bar 48, shown inl Figurey 14, moves around far enough toengage the crank pin 49 on the arm 46. This position is shown in fulllines in Figure 17. Atthis point the weighted arm'() will fall in thedirection ofthe arrow (see Figure 17) and thebar 48 will cause the crankarm 46 to swing rapidly over to the dotted line position of Figure 17 sothat the valve 19 Willbe instantly shifted and the direction'of flow ofthe Huid controlled by said lvalve willbe reversed so that the piston 15will be moved toward the opposite en'd of the cylinder 16 and the valves8 and 9 of the preheater will be quickly. reversed. The fall of theweighted arm 50 causes the ratchet arm 60 to move away from the lug 61,as

the weighted arm will be readily understood. It is desirable to' providestop C to limit the 46. After the the dotted line pins 63 on theframework movement of thecrank arm weighted arm\h as moved to positionin Figure 17 it will arms engage be caused tomove in the reversedirection and repeat the operation above described by actionof the wormwheel 52 and its lug 61. It will, of course.be noted that the ratchetarms 60v permit the lugs 61 to pass in onedirection but compel the armto move with the lug in the opposite direction.

-It will, therefore, be noted that by the provision of the mechanismabove described the apparatus is far as the shifting of the position ofthe valves 8 and 9 is concerned.l Hence smoke and gases serve for aperiod to rapidly heat one set of elements B while the otherV elementsare radiating heat into the incoming air. The valves are then shifted sothat the flow is exactly reversed.

It will, of course,be ndted that by reason of the construction such asabove described, I require but two valves 8 and 9 to regulate the How ofsmoke and gases and air, and that the construction is simplified overthe prior art, improved as 'regards `the heating elements and init'sgeneral arrangement and functionl 1 Hencefwhile Thave illustrated,and de` scribed ywhat Iv believe to be a preferred ementirely automaticin sol hodiment -of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to theprecise but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes andalterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: y

1. An air preheater, comprising a casing having a' pair of passagestherein with inlet and outlet ues communicating with both passages,valves at the ends of the casing adapted to connect the-fines witheither passage, the said casing'having an air inlet between the passagesat one end of the casing andan lair outlet between the passages at theother end of the casing, and heating elements in said passages.

2. An air preheater, comprising a casing having a pair oi: passagestherein with inlet and outletues communicating with both passages,valves at the ends of the casing adapted to connect the lues with eitherpassage, the said casing having an air inlet between the passages at oneend of the casing and an air outlet between the passages details setforth at the other end ofthe casing, heating elements in said passages,and cushion valve seats against which the valves move in closing.

`3. An air preheater, comprising a casing having a pair of passagestherein with inlet and outlet lues communicating with both passages,valves at the ends of the casing ladapted to connect thev lueswith-either passage, said casing having an .air inlet between thepassages at one end of the casin and an air outlet between the passagesat tie other end ofthe casing, heating elements in said passages, meansconnecting the valves, and means for rapidly shifting 'the valves tochange the directions of flow through the respective passages.

4. An air preheater comprising a pair of spaced lues connected at theirends, a partition between the spaced ilues dividing said space into aninlet and an outlet passage communicating with` the respective ues at.

their pointV of juncture, and valves controlling the passages throughthe lues.

WILLIAM T. CHAMBERLAIN;

